Jeff Schudel: Dagger man Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers sticks it to Warriors again

Kyrie Irving shoots over Klay Thompson (11) to take the lead in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter Dec. 25 at the Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs defeated the Warriors, 109-108.
Michael Johnson — The News Herald

The appetizer served on Christmas Day in Quicken Loans Arena was tasty enough to whet the appetite of every basketball fan anticipating a seven-course meal in June.

The Cavaliers, the best team in the East, and the Golden State Warriors, the best in the West, lived up to all the hype expected in a rematch from the last two NBA Finals.

“He’s a killer on the court,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said after the game Dec. 25. “Kyrie lives for that moment. He’s a big shot maker.”

Kevin Durant, new to Golden State after nine years with Oklahoma City, put on a show with 36 points and 15 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 forward displayed a feathery touch from outside. He can drive the lane and bring thunder on a high-flying dunk.

LeBron James nearly matched Durant shot for shot. James scored 16 of his 31 points in the third quarter on the strength of four three-pointers. He swooped in like an eagle descending on a mouse to swat away a shot by Golden State’s Zaza Pachulia with 1.8 seconds left in the first half to keep the deficit at 55-52 at halftime. It was just one play, but it exemplified the intensity of the game.

Some things have changed between the time the Cavs beat the Warriors in Game 7 to win their first NBA championship and some haven’t.

Durant is the biggest change. The Warriors signed him in free agency specifically to change the balance of power between the two super powers in the NBA.

J.R. Smith, the Cavs’ best three-point shooter, did not play on Christmas Day because he’s recovering from thumb surgery, but he will be back before the playoffs begin in mid-April.

Those things that haven’t changed – Warriors forward Draymond Green is still a hothead. A big reason the Cavaliers are champions is Green was suspended for Game 5 of the Finals for blatantly whacking James between the legs in Game 4.

Green took exactly two minutes and 35 seconds of the first quarter Dec. 25 to get a technical foul.

Warriors guard Steph Curry, smooth as silk against the rest of the NBA, was more like burlap against the Cavs in the 2016 Finals. He scored a quiet 15 points in the Christmas matchup. He is still getting used to sharing the ball with Durant.

Did I mention the Quicken Loans Arena crowd yet? No? That hasn’t changed, either. The sellout crowd of 20,562 was in playoff form. The Q was practically shaking when Irving hit the game-winner.

The Cavs still had more than three seconds to defend. When Durant’s last desperate shot, with Richard Jefferson guarding him, flew harmlessly away, the fans erupted again.

Both teams before the game tried to downplay any significance to what for the Cavs was Game 29 (Game 32 for the Warriors) of an 82-game season. But after his team won, Lue said smiled and allowed that, yes, maybe the Cavs are gaining a psychological edge on Golden State.

The Cavs came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals – something no other team has ever done. And on Christmas they clawed back from a 14-point deficit against the team that at 27-5 still has the best record in the NBA.

“I hope so,” Lue said. “Maybe we can play those last two (Irving) shots in their arena and they might think about it.”

The Cavaliers are now 23-6. The regular season rematch, the last time the Cavs and Warriors can meet before a third straight Finals duel, is Jan. 16 in Oakland.

The Finals won’t begin until almost six months after the game on the Warriors home court, but when all is said and done, the two regular season games between the Cavs and Warriors could ultimately decide home-court advantage in the fight for the 2017 championship.